Apparatus for discharging inflammable or other liquids from storage-tanks at the outbreak of fire.



fno. 710,091.

Patented Sept. 30.1902.

, c. 'A L'L'Enou. APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING INFLMYMABLE UR OTHER LIUUIDS FROM STl'tA-GE TANKS AT .THE uuTBREAK oF FIRE.

(Applicationnled Apr. B, 1902.)

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m.' 7|oo9|. Patented-sept. 3o, |902. c. ALLENou. APPARATUS FOR DITSCHARGING INFLAMMA'BLE 0R OTHER LIUUIDS FB on' STORAGE TANKS AT THE OUTBREAK 0F FIRE.

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No. 7|,0,09|. Patented' Sept. 30, |902.

` c. ALLI-:Now APPARATUS FOR DISCH'ARGING INFLAMMABLE OR OTHER LIYOUIDS 'FROM STORAGE TANKS AT THE OUTBREAK OF FIRE.

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No. 7|0,D9|. Patehd Sept. 30, |902.

C. ALLENU. f APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING INFLAMMABLE (IR-OTHER LIUIDS F ROM STURAGE TANKS AT THE OUTBREAK 40F FlFx'E.l

. Y (Application filed Apr. 8, 1902.) (No Modul.) 5-Sheets-$heet 4.

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No. 7|o,o9|`. 1 APaten-:ed sept'so, |902.

c. ALLENou.

APPARATUS FOR DISCHARGING INFLVAMMABLE OR OTHER LlllUlDSv FROM STORAGYE TANKS AT THEOUTBREAK OF'FIRE.

4- (Application med Api. s, 1902.)

(No Model.) 5 Shaets-Sheet 5. v

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ALLENOU, OF SEVRES, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FORDISCHARGING INFLAMMABLE 0R OTHER LlQUlDS FROM STORAGE-TANKS AT THE OUTBREAK'OF FIRE.

SPESFICATION forming part of' Letters Patent N 0. 710,091, dated September 30, 1902. i

i Application tiled April 8, 1902. Serial No. 101,929. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: p

Be it known that I, CHARLES ALLENOU, a citizen of the French'Republic, and a resident of Sevres, France, have invented a certain new and useful Automatically-Operated Apparatus for Discharging Inflammable or other Liquids from Storage-Tanks at the Outbreak of Fire, of which the following is a specication.

My invention has reference to apparatus for discharging inflammable or other liquids from storage-tanks at the outbreak of re, and has for its objects to save both said liquids andthe storage tank or tanks.

The annexed drawings show, by Way of eX- ample, an arrangement embodying my in vention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a complete apparatus designed to be utilized in conjunction with a vessel or tank containing infiammable liquid, said vapparatus being placed upon the top of the latter. Fig. 2 is a detail. Fig. 3 is an adaptation of Fig. 1 applied to a tank containing indammable liquid. Figs. 4 to 9 are details of the arrangement shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 10 represents several applications of the apparatus connected together in series by joined wire or other suitable means. Figs. 11 and 12 show the arrangement of the fusible starting device. views indicating the working of the apparatus when the liquid is ignited. Fig. 15 is a vertical section of a further application of the apparatus indicated in Fig. 3. 17 represent a section of a safety-tank and a cistern arranged to receive the liquid which is drained from the storage-tanks. Fig. 18 represents some details of Fig. 15.

The principal features of my siphon apparatus are as follows: The arrangement comprises a siphon, Fig. 3, formed of three pipes 1 2 3, made of metal or other suitable material, of either cylindrical or conical form and which are seated one in the other, with communicating openings between them, as indicated at 4 5 6. This Siphon is placed underneath the tank 16 and is supported by a frame 18. 'lhe pipe l is fixed to the tank 16 and is closed at its upper end by a thin plate 7, constructed of metal or other suitable material, which closes all communication between said Figs. 13 and 14 are' Figs. 16 and pipes and the tank. The plate 7 is held in place bya ribbed flange Sand fastened tightly bybolts and nuts 9 10. A leather washer141, prepared in such a manner as to remain flexible, is fixed inside the lower end of the pipe 1. The pipe 2 is attached by bolts to the pipe 1communication being established between the pipes 1 and 3 by the openings 4 and 5.

The pipe is closed further by a thin plate 15,

of metal or other suitable material, held in placeby a round block of metal 1l, to which is also fastened some metallic gauze 14, held in place by a small washer and secured by studs and nuts 12and 13, andnally the pipe 3 conducts away the liquid from the tank 16. The openings 6 are provided with metallicgauze coverings and are for the purpose of admitting air while the liquid is escaping. Over the plate 7 is placed a rigid rod 20, of metal or any other suitable material, carried by a small metal cotter-pin 2l, fixedinto an opening 24, the whole being supported by a metal Weight 22. Said rod-has two reversed cones 52 54 attached to it. The cone 52 is hollow and closed at its upper end. On the lateral portion openings 51 and 53 communicate with the'interior of the cone 52, while cone 54 is solid and pointed. The upper portion of the rod 2O is provided with a metal portion 19, on which two articulated branches 142 143 are held firmly bya small spring 55, which is carried by a pin 56, Fig. 4. An opening 27 at the end of the rod 2O is provided to enable a small chain 26 to be connected thereto, the other end of said chain being fastened. to the lever-arm 115 (said chain being conventionally illustrated in Fig. 10) of a Water-supply valve 116, which is placed over the tank 16. The tank is closed by means of a cover formed of two platforms 38 43 of different circumferences, the smallest being-.at the top, separated one from the other by supports 41, held in place by bolts 4() and hooped around with one or more bands of metallic gauze 42. The

platform 43 is substantially horizontal, but has a slight inclination toward the center. y Said platform is formed with several rimmed apertures 44, which are closed by Weighted hinged Hap-valves 45 46, the couuterweight beingindicatedin47. Somefurtheropenings 150 are hermetically closed by thin metal TCO sheets l44,supporting small cones 49, fastened to small rods in the form of a tripod 48 and disposed around the rod 20. The platform 38 has an aperture 39 formed in the center to permit the rod 2O and the flap-plate 19 to fall freely. It also supports a metal cylinder 32, terminated by two standards 28, surmounted by a roof 25. The said cylinder is made in two portions in ils thickness of which one is projecting 35 and the other retiring. The projecting portion is formed by the conjunction of two helical segments of one-fourth of a turn, having the same original form and being placed diametrically opposite. Two vertical slots 29, diametrically opposite, placed at the junction of each of these segments, serve as guides to the two projections 145 of a metallic disk 30. Said disk is formed with a suitable hole in the center 31 and is held in place by a spring 34, resting on the cover 38. The standards 28 have each a groove 29, acting as guides for the projections 146 on the weights 22. Said weight has a suitable hole 147, formed vertically through its centerand supports the rod 20 and is itself held in place by two cylinders 23, wholly or partly composed of a material which is fusible atahigh tem perature, but will resist ordinary temperatures-such as Darcet alloy, hard beeswax, tbe-held in place laterally by a semicylindrical hollow formed in the standards 28.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the rod 2O and indicates specially the provision made for the suspension of the cone 52 and the relief of the plate 7. Said cone 52 is hollow and mobile and is provided with openings 53 G4. In the interior of this cone and fixed to the rod 2O is a small metal plate 58, supporting a round washer of thick leather or cork 57. In order to reduce the eect of the pressure of the liquids which is imparted to the plate 7, metal rods 59, terminating in hooks and 6l at each end, are placed with the one end on the edge of the cone 52 and attached at the other end to the pins (S2. These pins first pass through the plate 7, to which they are brazed and for further rigidity are supported by plates 63, which are independent of plate 7. When the weight 22 and the rod 20 descend, a small chain operates on the arm of a lever attached to a water-cock arranged over the tank. By this means the water Hoods the outside of the tank and platform 43, where it spreads in such a manner as to dow over the metallic ganze, without at the same time being able to penetrate to the interior of the tank itself. Said water can only penetrate into the interior of the tank when the rod 20 nears the end of its travel, when the flap 19, acting upon the tripod, penetrates the small plates 144 by means of the small cones 49. Water is admitted by the aforementioned operation into the tank, and at the same time and by the completion of the movement the bottom of the tank is herlneticallysealed bythe cone 52, causingagradual dispersion by the valves 4G of the mixture of Vapor and explosive air which may be found in the tank and entirely filling same.

In further explanation of the working of my apparatus, in the event of a fire taking place in the vicinity of the tank or the ternperature of the air reaching the fusing-point of the fusible rolls 23 the weight 22 being released falls on the flap 19 and gives impetus to the fall of the rod 20. The Weight 22 is stopped by the projections of the cylinder 32. In the descent of the rod the cones 52 54 pass through the plate 7 and are then kept in position by the weight of the column of liquid 17, by which they are supported. By the latter movement the flap 19, resting on the disk 30, compresses the spring 34 until the projection 145 of this disk comes into contact with the projection 33. The liquid in the tank then Hows out by the pipes 1 2 3. When the tank is empty, the tension of the spring being only actuated by the weight of liquid in the cone 52, the said spring tends gradually to regain its original position in proportion to the flow of liquid through the small openings 51 53. In this ascending movement the mobile arms 142 143 of the flap 19, which were lightly held folded back in passing between the projecting parts 35 of the cylinder 32, afterward distend, imparting, in conjunction with the helical segments 35, with which they engage, a rotary movement through about ninety degrees to the rod 2U, during which movement the fixed portions of the flap 19 and the wedge 21 pass through a slot in the opening 31 of the disk 30, and the weight 22 and the rod and cones again fall. In this latter descending movement the cone 54 pierces the small thin plate 15, and thus allows the liquid which has gathered in the pipe 3 to flow over the metallic gauze 14. At the same time the cone 52 engages with the leather washer 141, closing hermetically all communication between the tank and the tube 3. The water spreading over the platform 43 then penetrates into the tank by the openings made in the small plates 144 by the descent of the small cones 43, as has been explained hereinbefore.

My apparatus may be subjected to various modifications, as described hereunder.

An arrangement as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 can be attached to the platform 38 and be substituted for that hereinbefore described for the purpose of carrying the rod. This arrangement is formed of two metallic standards 28, terminated by a roof 69. The said roof has a central aperture carrying a small cone of fusible metal or any other analogous material 67. Said cone is penetrated by the rod 20, of which the plate 66 supports the weight 22. Said rod is held in suspension by a nut 68. A hollow cylinder 81, fixed to the lower part of the two standards 28, is cut out at one part of its thickness with openings 79 148 149, of the form shown in Fig. 2, symmetrically and diametrically opposed. A

metal cylinder 76, which is arranged to move IIO easily around the cylinder 81', is formed with vertically-disposed slots 77, diametrically opposite. Two pins 78, xed by the side of the openings 77, are for the attachment of Wire ropes 73, conventionally illustrated in Fig. 1

of the drawings, arranged with that from the supported bya spring 34 and iuwhich theA projections 145 engage in the openings 77 79. The rod 2O is arranged in such a manner as to be unable to turn during the falling movement. v

The movements of the various parts are in'- dicated hereunder. The cone 67 fusing, the weight 22 and the rod 2O fall. The plates 74 stop the weight 22, and by this means pressure is exerted on the wire rope 73, tending to impart a rotating movement to the cylinder 76. The plate 66 and the rod 2O rest on the movable disk 30, and compressing the spring 34 the pins 145 of the disk 30 slide along the vertical slot 77 of the cylinder 76 and the right-hand' stop 79 until they pass the ledge` of the cylinder between 79 and 145. The pins then slide along to the right-hand stop 149 as farV as the juncture at the base ofthe opening 148. When the tank andthe cone 52 are emptied of liquid, the rod-ascends un` der the action of the spring 34 and the pins slide along the right-hand-stop of the opening 148 unt-il, as there is nothingto' opposev them, they enter into the hollow space 148.'

During the-rotation of the disk 30 the plate 66 is carried through the opening 31 of the disk, and the conef52 falls onto the washer;

141 of the pipe 1. y l

Further arrangements of the apparatus hereinbefore described can bemade, accord` ing to t-he proportion of dangerous propertiesk possessed by the liquids Vcontained in the tanks.

Fig. 15 is a siphon over which are supported two plain cones 52 54,fixed toy a rod 20. The said rodis guided by the supports 89, and is held in position by a wedgeof the section of the trunk of a cone 67, which is formed of a metal or other substance which is fusible aty a low temperature. The body of the saidcone rests in the opening 151 of a metal arch 69,: which is placed over the cover97 of the tank 16. The rod 2O is furnished at its upper end with a heavy conical weight 22, to which is attached a metal chain 26, fastened at its other extremity to the lever-arm 115 of a cock connected with a water-pipe 116,' Fig.'10, or by the same means to a catch113, acting on the shutter 114 of a box containing sand. A projecting portion of the rod 2Q is engaged by a fork 91, hanging f rom a guide 101, which is held in position by a metal rope 94, kept tight bythe weight 96. The junctions of the forks 93 are connected together by fusible pins 98, binding between them the dierent parts of the rope 94. It the liquid in the tank 16 takes fire, the cone 67 fuses and therod 20 and the cones 52 54 penetrate' the plate 7, the cone j 52 in falling, stops on a species of cone 82 formed of pewter (or any other easily-fusible metal or material) suitably constructed 83 102. When the tank is empty, the equilibrium of the liquid is reduced to the same level 'in the branches of the tubes 1 2, Figs. 13, 14.

The burning liquid in the tube 1 at once melts the perpendicular cords 84 or the pewter or other substance fixed in 85 and 86, which supports a small metallic cylinder 87, formed with several openings 88 and covered with metallic gauze. This cylinder in falling rests upon the topl of pipe 2, closing all direct means of connection between pipes 1 and2. Under the action of the ames'from the liquid in the tube 1 the portions 82 are fused and the cones 52 54 fall. The cone 52 is stopped by the upper part of -thev cylinder 87, while the cone 54 penetrates the small plate 15, al-` lowing the excess of liquid to How over the metallic gauze 1 4. If, as may happen otherwise, the fire does not take hold of the liquid in the tank, but the surrounding air reaches the point of fusionfof the plugs 98, these in melting destroy the balance of the counterweights 96, and the guide 101, fixed to the rope 94 by the pin 100, would carry the rod 20 through a ro'tary movement of 90 degrees. The section of a cone 67 being then moved to the largest opening in the hollow part 151, the rod then yfalls uniformly, and the cones 52 54 penetrate the plate 7.l

Figs. 13 and 14 show clearly the application of the apparatuswhenthe liquid is burning. i

Figs. 11 and 12 show some alternative application by which it is possible to substitute for the metal cones more fusible and less resisting substances, said substances 124 127 128 (hard beeswax or others) held between IOO scarfed metal plates 121 122 and 125 126 by to the edges of the sliding receptacle 151 of the support 69. Fig. 10 represents various applications of my invention connected in series by means of the cord 94 and joints 93, held in tension by the weights 96, whichpass over the pulleys 152, carried by the supports 117,

the tank being furnishedvinfthis application with a water-supply pipe situated above it. The following is an explanation of the working: The tank l5, containing an infiammable or almost-inflammable liquid, as beer,

Wine, and the like, is arranged vwith an apparatus inwhich the siphon is replaced by a simple tubo 118, Yclosed by a plate 7. The tank C is arranged with an apparatus in which the siphon is included. 'When the tank is empty and equilibrium takes place in the branches 101 105, the excess of liquid escapes by a small siphon 107, covered with metal gauze, and attracts at once the flow of liquid to the pipe 106. Lastly, the tank D is provided with my apparatus placed at the cxterior of the tank and surmounted by a long metal tube 110. The plates 109 111 act as guides to the rod 20 and the plates 108 as a support for the cone 67. On leaving the tanks the liquid discharges into cisterns outside the building, passing, where necessary, through a cesspool in order to lessen the chance of the fire being communicated to the liquids when very inflammable. The liquid reaches the cesspool 131 by the pipe 130 and fills up the bottom part. A small siphon 137, covered with metallic gauze 13S, forthwith allows a partial flow of liquid into the cistern 139. The liquid 132, gradually filling the cesspool131, raises the float 134;, connected to the counterweight 133 of a flap-valve 135, covered with metallic gauze. When the liquid reaches the highest level of the conduit 131, a Siphon-action is created, and a portion of the liquid flows into the cistern 139 until the lloat 134C in descending closes the valve 135. In combination with and in case of any accidental communication of [ire to the liquid contained in the cesspool the safety apparatus can nevertheless operate and the liquid be discharged .into the cistern 139, which communicates with the open air by means of the pipe 1-10.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Thecombinationwithatank for thestorage of inflammable liquid, and a dischargepipe leading from the bottom thereof, of a diaphragm arranged across and normally closing said discharge-pipe, a puncture device supported above said diaphragm by a fusible joint, and means `connected with said puncture device for automatically closing the discharge-pipe after the liquid has been discharged from the tank.

2. The combination with a tank for the storage of inflammable liquid, and a dischargepipe leading from the bottom thereof, of a frangible disk or plate arranged across and normally closing t-he discharge-pipe, a rod supported by a fusible joint and adapted when released to break said disk or plate and establish communication between the tank and discharge-pipe, and means connected with said rod for closing the discharge-pipe after the liquid has been discharged from the tank. y

3. The combination with a tank for the stor` age of inflammable liquid, and a dischargepipe leading from the bottom thereof, of a frangible disk 0r plate arranged across the innerend of the discharge-pipe, a rod supported above said disk or plate by a fusible joint and adapted when released to break said disk or plate, a stop or plug mounted on said rod and adapted to close the discharge-pipe, and

means controlling the movement of said rod, whereby when released it Will irst break the frangible disk or plate and after the liquid from the tank has been discharged will be again operated to bring the plug thereon into position to close the discharge-pipe.

4. The combination ofa tank for the storage of inflammable liquid having an aperture in its top, a discharge-pipe leading from the bottom of the tank, frangible disks or plates normally closing said discharge-pipe and the aperture in the top of the tank, means for breaking said disks or plates normally held in active positions by suitable fusible material, a water-supply duct` and a Valve in said duct connected with and adapted to be opened by said breaking means, said parts being so arranged that when the breaking means isreleased, the water-valve will be opened and the disks or plates 'closing the discharge-pipe and the aperture in the top of the tank successively broken.

5. The combination ofa tank for the storage of inflammable liquid-having an aperture in its top, a discharge-pipe leading from the bottom of the tan k, frangible disks or plates normally closing the discharge-pipe and said aperture in the top of the tank, a rod supported by the fusible joint above the disk closing the discharge-pipe, means connected with said rod'for breaking the disk closing the aperture in the top of the tank, a water-supply duct having a valve connected with said rod, and means connected to said rod for closing the discharge-pipe, said parts being so arranged that when the rod is released the disk closing the discharge-pipe will be broken and the valve in the water-supply duct opened and thereafter the discharge-pipe will be closed and the disk closing the aperture in the tanktopbroken to admit water to the interior of the tank.

6. The combination with a tank for the storage of inflammable liquid, a discharge-pipe leading therefrom, and a water-pipe arranged above the tank, of means for normally closing said pipes, automatic means for opening said pipes', a fusible joint normally holding said means in inactive position, and supplemental means for closing the discharge-pipe and admitting Water to the interior of the tank. i

7. The combination ofa tank for the storage of inflammable liquid, having a plurality of apertures in its top, frangible disks closing one or more ot said apertures, outwardlyswinging valves closing the other of said apertures, a discharge-pipe leading from the bottom of the tank, a water-pipe adapted to deliver Water ontothe tank, and means, normally held in inactive position by a fusible joint, for actuating a valve in the water-pipe and successively opening the discharge-pipe and breaking the frangible disk or disks at the top of the tank. v

8. rlhe combination of a tank for the storage of inflammable liquid, a discharge-pipe lead- IOO IIO

ing,r from the bottom ot' the tank and consisting of three concentrically-arranged members the inner member being completely open at its lower end, and communicating at its upper end with the tank, the intermediate member having outlets in its bottom and side walls, and the ,outer member having` air-inlets in its side walls above vthe plane of the outlets in the intermediate member, frangible disks or plates arranged across the upper end of the inner member and the lower end ofthe intermediate member ot said pipe, a rod supported by a fusible joint above the disk or plate at the upper end of the inner member of the discharge-pipe, a plug or stopper mounted on said rod above its lower end,

and adapted to t snugly within the lower end of the inner member of the dischargepipe when said rod is in its lowest position,

means for forcing the rod downwardly when.

released, to cause its lower end to successively break or pierce the disks or platesk 

